Magic Tarver and Tua-Man

Created: 20 November 2012

On November 21, their Birthdays will celebrate two, very famous in the past decade, fighters who are widely known to all boxing fans

Antonio Magic Tarver was born 1968 in Orlando, Florida. Tall, heavy punching southpaw stayed in amateurs just little too long, as many thought. 1992, Tarver was little short to qualify to Barcelona Olympics. But he doesn't turn pro, and still fighting at amateurs. 1995 was the most productive year in Antonio's carrier, in Mar del Plata, Argentina, he won the PanAmerican Games, but in Berlin becomes the World Champion, beating the world's best light-heavies (81 Kilo), Italian Pietro Aurino, Kazakh Vassili Jirov and Diosvany Vega of Cuba. On Atlanta'96 Olympics, Antonio goes as full leader of his division, but....gets only the bronze, losing in the semis to the next champion Jirov from Kazakhstan.

In 1997 Tarver debuts on professionals and six years later, in 2003, wins the vacant WBC and IBF light-heavyweight belts, beating by points Montell Griffin. At the November of the very same year Tarver lost his titles to Roy Jones Jr., but just six month later in their rematch wins the WBA and WBC belts and becomes the first ever, who knocks Roy Jones Jr. out! Altogether, Tarver has 5 belts, his the most notable fights are; win and loss against Glen Johnson, win over the Englishman Clinton Woods, losses from Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson. In June of 2012, Tarver fought at cruiserweight. Now his record is 29(20 KO)-6 and Antonio still active. He took the Sylvestre Stallone's offer and played the role in the latest Rocky Balboa picture. Today, Antonio Tarver is 44!

David Tua, or Mafaufau Sita, in full, but still little shortened name, was born 1972 in Faleasiu, Samoa. After Tua settled down in Auckland, New Zealand, the country which he will always represent later on. Only 5"10 feet tall heavyweight, Tua has devastating power and natural speed. On amateurs, at heavyweight (91 Kilo), David twice wins Oceania's championships and had the bronze at 1991 World Championships in Sydney, in the semis losing to the legendary Cuban Felix Savon and 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, which after he turns pro.

At the pros, David recommends himself as the real knockout king. His punching power, being on the floor, could estimate such a famous fighters as John Ruiz, Oleg Maskaev, Hasim Rahman, Michael Moorer. The unexpected loss Tua suffers from the awkward southpaw Chris Byrd and very infamous loss from Lennox Lewis for the WBC and IBF belts. Tua was just too tense and couldn't implement the most of his potential in that fight. The last time Tua fought was in 2011, after which he retired with the record of 52(43 KO)-4-2. Today, David Tua, or Tua-Man, celebrates his Big Birthday of 40!!!